Posts tagged exercise

With Halloween candy, Thanksgiving pies, and Christmas cookies in the past, it’s time to ring in the New Year with some tips to maintain your health in 2012.

Get prepared: Stocking up your kitchen with healthy favorites will eliminate the temptation to eat junk food that could be detrimental to your well-being and your fitness goals. Warm up with a nutritious cup of soup or jumpstart your metabolism with a cleansing cup of green tea. Oh yeah, you may also want to toss what’s left of the holiday candy.

Get moving: Whether you enjoy working up a sweat on a bike, on your feet, or to the beat, there are tons of options to get you off the couch and ready for summer clothes. Group exercise, such as gym classes or joining a running club, is a great way to meet friends who have the same fitness goals in mind. You would be surprised how much fun you can have while burning calories!

Get pumped up: Listening to some upbeat tunes is sure to put you in a good mood. Whether taking a Zumba class or hitting the clubs, hearing chart topping tunes by Rihanna, Pitbull, or Flo Rida are sure to give you a “Good Feeling.”

Get de-stressed: Yoga and meditation are stress relieving activities that benefit the mind and body. Taking even just five minutes a day to focus on your breathing and clear your mind will help you let go of any stressful thoughts. Regular practice of these techniques can change the way you relate to yourself and others, making your relationships stronger and more fulfilling.

Get some rest: After a busy day at work or at home, sleep is essential for replenishing energy, reducing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight. Make a New Year’s resolution to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night – your body will thank you!

Take these tips, make them part of your daily routine, and2012 will be your best year yet!

Two weeks ago I ran my first half-marathon in 2 hours 1min 53sec (see earlier post to get more background)! We started in Prospect Park in Brooklyn and ended in Coney Island. It felt great mentally and physically to accomplish such a long run. As a beginner runner, I tried to read up on all the tips & tricks. Now, after finishing my first race I’d love to share some of my thoughts:

Dress appropriately: I was sure to check the weather the night before. I went with some Nike dri-fit capris & tank. It was a bit chilly in the morning, but by mile 2 I was perfect.

Start slow: This was a harder rule for me to follow, but I had my good friend Erika to keep me in check. You automatically want to run fast, but it’s best to start slow and build your speed. You can always sprint at the end.

Hydrate: I’m constantly forcing myself to hydrate. I’m not one of those people that drink lots of water, but I’ve been getting much better at it! Throughout the race, you’ll find stations of water and Gatorade. Be sure to take advantage of them! Some people think that it will take time off their numbers, but in the end it really helps! Your body will thank you for it. I had my first Gatorade at mile 4 and then pretty much continued to do so every other mile.

Music: My running mix really got me through the run—from Jay Z’s Empire State of Mind to Passion Pit’s Sleepyhead and MGMT’s Kids, I was able to motivate with music!

Accessories: What did I really need? To be honest aside from my iPod, the only other items I carried in my pants were tarte’s 24/7 lip sheer and Powerbar gel to take at mile 6. Other than that I checked everything else I had with me.

Support system: For this race, I was lucky to run with Erika and my husband Greg was there to cheer us on. I’m also constantly asking my dear friend Jay for advice, too.

As for challenges I personally faced during my run—waking up at 5am for a 7am race! Other than that I had some soreness, but ice and some advil did the trick. Next up: NYC marathon in October!!